Catholic educators joined the prime minister, colleagues and admirers in mourning the passing of author and professor Kabir Chowdhury, who died of heart failure yesterday at the age of 89.

Chowdhury, often called the ‘national professor,’ has been praised for his contributions to the Bangladesh National Education Policy 2010, as well as efforts on behalf of social justice in the country.

“National professor Kabir Chowdhury was a wise, virtuous and courageous person. He was a great patriot,” said Holy Cross Father Benjamin Costa, secretary of the Bangladesh Catholic Education Board.

Chowdhury was buried with state honors at the Martyred Intellectuals’ Graveyard following a funeral service yesterday, attended by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.